Golf ball washer



July 3, 1962 l L, B. sMn-H 3,041,645

GOLF BALL WASHER Filed Deo. 19, 1958 INVENTOR. oa/s 5. vw/7H BY I United tates free 3,041,645 GOLF BALL WASHER Louis B. Smith, 137 E. Garfield Ave., New Castle, Pa. Filed Dec. 19, 1958, Ser. No. 781,703 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-97) The present invention relates to improved means for washing and cleaning golf balls. The golf ball washer is suitable for attachment to a golfers caddy cart and is so constructed that a number of balls can be cleaned in one operation of the machine.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is the provision of a golf ball washer which will not leak cleaning fluid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a portable golf ball washer having a sponge-like lining which is wet with cleaning fluid, such as a liquid detergent for cleaning golf balls. In accordance with one feature of the present invention only enough cleaning fluid is present in the portable washer for wetting the sponge-like lining so that no free cleaning fluid will be present in the washer. This is advantageous as the portable washer can then be transported without any danger of leaking cleaning iiuid.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for the simple, eiiicient and rapid Washing and cleaning of golf balls and'at the same time to provide a golf `ball Washer which will not lose its cleaning iiuid, such as by leaking or spilling.

A still further object of the invention is to providea golf ball washer of the character referred to which will be of rugged and durable construction, capable of convenient and simple manipulation, and well adapted to meet the conditions of hard, practical use.

A still further object is to provide a golf ball washer of the above described character which will be capable of economical manufacture and which is so constructed that the parts thereof may be conveniently replaced or repaired.

The invention further resides in certain novel features of construction, and combinations and arrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains from the following description of the present preferred embodiment thereof described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters represent corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary side elevational view of a caddy cart handle having a golf ball washer embodying the invention clamped to the handle;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the golf ball washer;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the golf ball washer of FIG. l taken transversely of the caddy cart handle;

and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along lines 4 4 of FIGS. 2 and 3. x

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and arrangements of parts shown in the drawings and hereinafter described in detail, but is capable of being otherwise embodied and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. It is to be further understood that the phraseology orterminology employed herein is` for the purpose of description and there is no intention to herein limit the invention beyond the requirements of the prior art.

The invention in its preferred form contemplates the provision of a golf ball washer having a sponge-like cleaning pad wet with a cleaning fluid, preferably a liquid detergent, for cleaning a golf ball. Also, in the preferred embodiment of the invention the washer is portable and adapted to be secured to a golfers caddy cart so that the washer will be readily available for a-golfers immediate use.

An important feature of the foregoing arrangement is that the golf ball washer embodying the invention will not leak cleaning liquid since only enough liquid is used to wet or moisten the sponge-like cleaning pad.

Referring to FIG. 1, a golf ball washer 19, embodying a preferred form of the invention, is clamped to a handle.

11 of a golfing caddy cart by means of a saddle-type clamp 12 having two yoke-like parts 13, 14 adapted to be clamped together by fasteners. The washer is cornprised of a generally cup-shaped, cylindrical-walled casing 16 having a central vertically extending pin or post 17. The post 17 extends through the bottom of the casing 16 and the part 14 and has its lower end staked over the clamp part 14- so that the post 17, the casing 16, and the clamp part 14 are secured together.

The inside of the casing 16 is completely lined with a nonrnetallic, porous, resilient, sponge-like cleaning pad 18, preferably of sponge material. The outer peripheral surface of the lining 18 assumes the shape of the inner wall of the casing 16. The inner surface of the generally cup-shaped lining 18 has a generallyV cylindrical wall which extends downwardly from the upper edge of the casing 16 and curves in a generally radial arc 20, of a radius substantially less than the radius of the peripheral arc of a golf ball. The arc 20 provides a generally circular path yin the bottom of the :casing y16. VThe central portion of the lining 18 terminates inY a raised, annular, radially extending and substantially planar surface 21. The post 17 is providedl with a shoulder which tapers downwardly and outwardly in a curved path towards the bottom of the casingvld so as to provide a smooth contoured shoulder 22 and thereby removes any possibility of any sharp edges damaging the lining 18 or any golf balls which may jbe washed inthe washer 10. A golf ball 23 is shown being washed in the washer 10,'FIG. 4.

In this invention, as pointed out, only a sufficient quantity of cleaning uid, such as a liquid detergent, is put into the casing 16 to satisfactorily wet the sponge "18. It has been found that a sponge wetted with a liquid detergent, without its being diluted with water, will clean a golf ball in the golf ball washer. One of the advantages of this invention is that the sponge 18 serves to prevent any sloshing and leakage of the cleaning fluid out of the golf ball washer 10 during the transportation or use thereof.

A combination cover and means for advancing the golf ball 23 in the casing 16 is indicated generally by the reference numeral 2S. The cover 25 comprises a generally planar, disk-shaped Vportion 'having a cylindrical edge defining its outer periphery. The center part of thev cover 25 has a circular opening 26 formedy therein for permitting the cover 25 to be journalled upon an enlarged cylindrical shoulder 2'7 formed on the upper-end of the post 417. The outer or upperexposed surface of the cover 25 is provided with a lever 28 having one end pivotally secured, such as with a pivot pin 29, to the cover 25 at a point near the periphery thereof. The lever arm 28 is planar and is generally bowed or curved so as to substantially define an arc. Preferably, the, lever 28' has .a length which is substantially equalto the diameter of the cover 25. Y

The center part of one edge of the lever 28 is notched so as to engage a peripheral groove 30 formed in the upper end of the post 17, just above the collar 27, .and thereby secure the cover 25 in assembly with the casing 16and prevent axial displacement of the cover relative to the post 17' and the casing 16. Theother end of the lever 28 has a knob 31 pivotally secured thereto by means of a rivet 32.

washing machine.

l of the'washing machine.

The cover can be removed from* the casing Vv16 and l the post 17 by moving the lever through a small arcuate path substantially to a position shown in hidden outline 33-in FIG. 2. After the lever 2S has been moved to the position indicated at 33 in FIG. 2, the cover 25 can be' lifted oif the `post l17 and golf balls can be added or removed. Also, the liquid cleaner can be added to the absorbent lining 18 of casing 16. Y

The other function of the combination cover Vand Ygolf i ball rotating means 25 is carriedY out by meansA of a generally washer-shaped friction pad 34, the friction pad 34 preferably being made of rubber and generally planar Vwith radially extending grooves or serrations in the ex- Y 4 ported on said post for movement away from said position closing the casing to provide access to said casing, a washer-shaped friction disc concentrically secured to the underside of said cover and disposed `about said post, and

posed lower surface rthereof for better frictionally engaging and advancing the golf ball 23. VThe outside diameter of the friction pad 34 is preferably less than the inside diameter of the cylindricalportion 19 of thel lining 18. The diameter of the opening in the center of the friction pad 34 is substantially greater than the diameter of thev shoulder 2.7n of the postn17. Consequently, there will be nothing lsubstantially hindering the rotating movement of the cover'ZS. The rotating movement is carried out by cranking the knob 31 in a clockwise direction about the post 17, as seen in FIG. 2.`

Movement'of the knob 31 in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 2, allows the cover to be removed from the casing 16 and the post 17. Y

The washing and cleaning of a golf ball 23' is effected by removing the cover 25, inserting the golf ball 23,` and 'replacing-the vcover 25 over the shoulder 27 of the post 17. The lever 28 is then moved from the position shown at 33 in a clockwise direction until it engages the groove 30 of the post 17. The clockwise movement of the knob 31 is then 'continued and the golf ball 23 is passed around the circular track 21 formed in the upper surface of the lining 18 for a predetermined number of` turns until the ball 23 is clean. VThe golf ball path 20 of the lining 18 .by meansof the friction lining A2,3 is tightly pressed against the arcuate v 34 secured to the underside of the cover 2.5. This assures adequatefrictional contact of the golf ball 23 with the lining y34 and the positive advancement of the golf ball around the path 20. The golf ball can then be lremoved f from the washer 10 by moving the knob 31 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 2, followed by the subsequent removal of the cover 25 from the post 17 of the One of theadvantages of the invention is that the user is assured of a washing machine that will not leak cleaning uid during its operation due to the use. of a` mositened sponge lining forming the interior of the casing However, it is to be understood that some golfers may desire to iill the casing 16 with a Acleaning fluid, which 'can be other than a liquid detergent. `Even in this instance thersponge-like lining 18 will retard the fluid from leaking from the casingrwhen the fluid is Y sloshed or the casing is tilted. K

rIt will be also understood that the present invention can be Vadapted to various circumstances and conditions, `and vit is accordingly desired to comprehendgwithin thepuring from the bottom of said casingV outwardly of the open end of said casing and terminating at a pointoutside thereof, means connecting said post to the bottom of said casing and securing the` post and casing against relative translatory movement, Ya cup-shapedY circular cover having a position closing the open end of'said casing and an opening receiving said post Aand rotatably connected to said post near thQQUte'r cud thereof, said cove; being SUP Y tating said cover.

cover rotating means for rotating said cover relative to said casing and frictionally engaging and advancing a golf ball therein for cleaning the same, said cover rotating means comprising a lever having one end pivotally connected to the upper side of said cover near the periphery thereof for movement in 'a plane parallel to the plane of said cover into and out of engagement with said post and having a part in the center thereof including a notch adapted to engage a groove in said post disposed in the plane of said lever so `as to` prevent the axial displacement of said cover on said post, and a knob `on the other end of said lever for moving said lever into'and out of engagement with said post and rotating said cover.

V2. In 4a portable golf ball washer, a cup-shaped cylindrical casing, a cup-shaped cylindrical sponge lining the inner Wall of said casing, a centrally located post extending from the bottom of said casing of the open end of said casing and terminating `at a point outside thereof, means connecting said post to the bottom of saidV casing to constrain said casing and post against movement from predetermined relative positions, `a cup-shaped circular cover having a position closing the open end of said casing, said cover being rotatably connected to said post near the outer end thereof and having an opening vreceiving said post and being supported on said post for movement outwardly away from said casing to provide access thereto, said cover having a friction drive surface on the underside thereof facing said casing and adapted to engage and drive a ball` disposed in said casing, and means for rotating said cover relative to said casing, said means comprising a lever having one end pivotally connected to the upper side of said cover near the periphery thereof and movable in a plane parallel to the plane of said cover into and out of engagement with said post, said lever having a notch in the center thereof adapted to engage a groove in said post in the plane of said leverr so `as to prevent the axial displacement of said cover on said post from said position, and a knob on the other end of said lever for moving said lever into and out of engagement with Said post and ro- 3. In ya portable golf ball Washer, a cup-shaped cylindrical casing, a cup-shaped cylindrical sponge lining the inner Wall `of said casing,` fa centrally =located post extending from the `bottom of said casing and extending outwardly of the open end of said cas-ing and terminating at a point youtside thereof, means connecting said post to the bottomv of said casing and holding the post in a perdetermined position relative to said casing, a cup-shaped circular cover rotatably supported on said post near the outer end thereof and having `a position closing the open end of said casing, said `cover having an opening receiving said post ,and being supported on said post for movement away from said casing lto provide access thereto, said cover hav- -ing a friction drive surface on'the underside thereof facpost when said cover said casing, and means for rotating said Vcover posed in ing yone end connected to said cover for movement relative -to the cover into and out of engagement with said is in its position closing said casing, said lever and post including cooperating parts engageable and disengageable by movement of said lever into and out of Iengagement with said post toY prevent the Vaxial displacement of said cover on said post, and a knob on the end of said lever remote from said one end for movingvsaid lever relative Yto 'said ,post and rotating said cover.

4. Ina portable golf ball Washer, a cup-shaped cylindrical cas-ing, a cup-shaped cylindrical sponge lining the inner wall of said casing, acentrally located postrigidly secured to the bottom of said casing and extending outwardly of the open end of said casing and terminating at relativeto said casing, said means comprising a lever hava point outside thereof, a cup-shaped circular cover having an opening pivotally receiving said post and pivotally connected to said post near the outer end thereof, said cover having a friction drive surface on the underside thereof facing said casing and adapted to engage and drive a ball disposed in said casing, and -means for locking said cover against axial movement relative to the post and for rotating the cover relative to the casing while locked against axial movement relative to said post, said means including -a lever pivotally connected to the cover for movement relative -to the cover into and out 0f engagement with said post, said lever and post including cooperating parts engageable and disengageable by movement of said lever to and from said post to prevent and permit axial displacement of the cover on said post and accommodating rotation of said cover on said post when engaged, said cover being respectively attached and freed for detachment relative to the casing in response to movement of said lever into and out of engagement with said post.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,474,153 Klein Nov. 13, 1923 2,031,633 Brillhart n Feb. 25, 1936 2,744,274 Procario May 8, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,260 Great Britain 1894 12,918 lGreat Britain Sept. 2l, 1889 697,358

Great Britain Sept. 23, 1953 

